U`khand rivers in spate, Almora SDM still untraceable

Dehradun: All major rivers in Uttarakhand were in spate on Wednesday after overnight rains, hampering efforts to trace Almora SDM Ajay Arora as the swirling waters of Mandakini river did not allow divers to scour it.

Arora has been missing ever since he fell in Mandakini from a makeshift bridge over a fortnight ago.

Relief Commissioner BVRC Purushottam said bad weather, coupled with a swollen Mandakini, forced police and NDRF personnel to confine their search to the riverside in Rambada, Phata and Sonprayag areas.

However, the operation will continue till the official is traced, he added.

Most rivers of the state, including Ganga in Haridwar and Sharda in Champavat, are flowing close to the danger mark as overnight rains lashed various parts of the state.

The Tehri lake is flowing at 819.25 metres, just a few metres below the danger mark.

The rise in the water level of Sharda river in Champavat district has prompted authorities to sound an alert in areas close to Sharda barrage.

However, there was some respite with no fresh rainfall throughout the day, state Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre said.

Six families at Indarola village in Tehri district were moved to safety after cracks appeared in their homes following heavy rains.